JP3544552B2 - Information recording medium reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an information recording medium reading device for reading information from an inserted information recording medium, and more particularly to detection of ejection of an information recording medium in such an apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an information recording medium reading apparatus for reading and decoding a barcode or the like, some means for detecting insertion or abutment of a medium on which a barcode or the like is written have been conventionally proposed.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-144784 discloses an apparatus having a configuration as shown in FIG. In this configuration, a first sensor 100 for detecting insertion and a second sensor 102 for detecting a final position are arranged, and a card 104 is used as a recording medium for information. Further, reference numeral 106 in the figure denotes a driving roller driven by a motor (not shown), 106 'denotes a driven roller facing the driving roller 106, 108 denotes a scanner for reading a bar code, and 110 denotes a card 104 taken in. It is a guide plate for guiding.
[0004]
Then, the card 104 is once taken into the apparatus, the end of the card 104 is detected and positioned, and then the card 104 is reversed to start the barcode reading operation.
[0005]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the device disclosed in this publication. In the figure, reference numeral 112 denotes a motor for driving the drive roller 106, and reference numerals 114 and 116 denote first and second motor drive control circuits. FIG. 8 is an operation waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the circuit of FIG.
[0006]
7 and 8, the leading end of the card 104 inserted into the card insertion slot (not shown) is detected by the first sensor 100 (signal a), and the first signal is detected based on the detection signal a of the first sensor. The motor drive control circuit 114 rotates the motor 112 in the normal rotation direction (forward direction) to draw in and convey the card 104.
[0007]
When the card 104 is conveyed and its end (final position) is detected by the second sensor 102, a stop signal e is output from the second motor drive control circuit 116 by the detection signal aa of the second sensor 102. , The motor 112 is stopped. This stop position can be the first barcode position.
[0008]
Further, the scanning of the scanner 108 is started by the stop signal e, the first bar code is read, the scanning of the scanner 108 is stopped by the reading end signal c, and the reverse rotation signal from the second motor drive control circuit 116 is output. When f is applied to the motor 112, the motor 112 returns the card 104 to the next barcode position, and causes the scanner 108 to perform scanning.
This operation is repeated by the number of rows of the barcode, and after reading of all the barcodes is completed, the card 104 is returned from the card insertion slot.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the related art disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, a medium is inserted into an apparatus, abutted to a final position, and then reversely discharged. In such a configuration, no problem occurs even if the sensors of the medium work independently.
[0010]
However, in a configuration in which the medium goes straight and discharges without reverse movement after insertion, the discharge cannot be detected properly because the medium sensor works alone. That is, in a configuration in which the vehicle travels straight without going backward, the second sensor 102 in FIG. 6 is used for discharge detection. However, if the ejection of the card 104 is to be detected only by the second sensor 102, the state in which the sensor 102 does not detect the card 104 must be set as the ejection state. However, this state exists even when the card 104 is inserted, and is not a condition for limiting the ejection state of the card 104. Therefore, there is a problem that the discharge of the medium cannot be accurately detected by the sensor that works alone.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording medium reading device capable of accurately detecting discharge of an information recording medium.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an information recording medium reading device according to the present invention includes a conveyance path through which a medium on which information is recorded is conveyed, and an information recording medium for reading information recorded on the medium during the conveyance of the medium. The output of the reading sensor arranged in the conveyance path, the first medium detection sensor and the second medium detection sensor arranged before and after the reading sensor in the conveyance path, and the output of the first medium detection sensor are the moment became chromatic detection state from a no detection state, a medium insertion detection means for detecting as an insertion into the transport path of the medium, or after the time that the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium and, the first medium output the output of the second medium detection sensor with continued as no detection state will no detection state again from the chromatic detection state of the detection sensor is free from chromatic detection state The moment became known state, a medium ejection detection means for detecting as a discharge from the conveyance path of the inserted the medium into the transport path, from the time when the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium, the is characterized in that a control means for controlling the read sensor as discharged from the transport path of the medium until the time it is detected, continue to read out information from the medium by the medium discharge detecting means .
Also, the information recording medium reading device according to the present invention is arranged in the transport path on which the medium on which the information is recorded is transported, and in the transport path for reading the information recorded on the medium in the process of transporting the medium. A read sensor, a first medium detection sensor and a second medium detection sensor disposed before and after the read sensor in the transport path, and any one of the first and second medium detection sensors. the moment the output of the medium sensor becomes chromatic detection state from a no detection state, a medium insertion detection means for detecting as an insertion into the transport path of the upper SL medium, detects the insertion of the medium by the medium insertion detection means were or after the point in time, and the output is the chromatic detection state will no detection state again as no detection state the first and second medium test with continued for one medium detection sensor above The moment the other output of the medium sensor of the sensor becomes non-detecting state from the chromatic detection state, and the medium ejection detection means for detecting as a discharge from the conveyance path of the inserted said medium onto Symbol conveying path , from the time when the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium, discharged from the transport path of the medium by the medium ejection detecting means until the time it is detected, continue to read out information from the medium Control means for controlling the reading sensor as described above .
[0012]
[Action]
That is, according to the information recording medium reading device of the present invention, the first medium detecting sensor and the second medium detecting sensor are arranged before and after the reading sensor in the medium transport path, and the medium insertion detecting unit includes: The moment at which the first medium detection sensor detects the medium is detected as insertion of the medium into the transport path, and the medium discharge detection means is based on both outputs of the first and second medium detection sensors, , or after the time that the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium, and said second medium detection sensor first medium detection sensor is not detect and medium not to detect the medium The moment when the medium is no longer detected is detected as discharge of the medium from the transport path. Then, the control means, between the time that the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium to the point where the discharge of the medium by the medium ejection detecting means is detected, the read sensor to read information from the medium as continue out, controls the reading sensor.
Alternatively, according to the information recording medium reading device of the present invention, the first medium detecting sensor and the second medium detecting sensor are arranged before and after the reading sensor in the medium transport path, and the medium insertion detecting unit includes: The moment when any one of the first and second medium detection sensors detects the medium is detected as insertion of the medium into the transport path, and the medium discharge detection unit detects the first and second medium detection sensors. based on both the output of the second medium detection sensor, that is, or after the time when the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium, and, and the medium while the medium sensor described above need not detect the medium Is detected as the discharge of the medium from the transport path at the moment when the other medium detection sensor of the first and second medium detection sensors that has detected the medium no longer detects the medium. Then, the control means, between the time that the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium to the point where the discharge of the medium by the medium ejection detecting means is detected, the read sensor to read information from the medium as continue out, controls the reading sensor.
[0013]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the information recording medium reading apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, the card 10 is used as an information recording medium. The barcode 12 is printed or affixed on this card. The operator holds the card 10 by hand, and slides and moves on the guide groove 22 cut on the upper surface of the information recording medium reading device main body 20.
[0014]
At this time, when the card 10 is inserted, the card 10 first traverses the insertion sensor 24 and then is ejected across the ejection sensor 26. The insertion / ejection sensors 24 and 26 need only be able to detect the presence or absence of the card 10 at that point, and can be configured using, for example, a photo interrupter, a proximity sensor, or a microswitch.
[0015]
A reading sensor 28 is provided between the insertion sensor 24 and the ejection sensor 26. The barcode information is read by the reading sensor 28. Specifically, the following can be used as the reading sensor 28. In the case of a barcode represented by a JAN code, bars and spaces are arranged in a one-dimensional direction, and information is recorded in this direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the arrangement direction of the bar 12A and the space 12B is the same as the moving direction of the card 10, the reading sensor 28 can detect the reflected light intensity from one location such as a photodiode. Things are good. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1C, when the arrangement direction of the bars and spaces 12A and 12B intersects the moving direction of the card 10, the reading sensor 28 outputs reflected light on a line such as a linear sensor (one-dimensional CCD). Anything that can detect the intensity can be used. Here, the arrangement direction of the detectors of the linear sensor is naturally the same as the arrangement direction of the bars and spaces 12A and 12B.
[0016]
Although not shown, the reading device main body 20 includes various control circuits such as a control circuit for performing a decoding process using the output of the reading sensor 28 and an interface circuit for outputting a decoding result to an external host device. A circuit is configured.
[0017]
FIG. 2A is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the control circuit when the configuration of FIG. 1A is used. That is, if the detection output of the insertion sensor 24 changes from the non-detection state of the card 10 to the detection state of the card 10 while the detection output of the ejection sensor 26 remains in the non-detection state of the card 10 (step S11), the reading sensor 28 The reading process using is started (step S12). This reading process continues the non-detection state even after the detection output of the insertion sensor 24 has changed from the detection state to the non-detection state, and the detection output of the discharge sensor 26 also changes from the non-detection state to the detection state. The operation is continuously performed while the presence detection state is continued. When the detection output of the insertion sensor 24 remains in the non-detection state and the detection output of the ejection sensor 26 changes from the detection state to the non-detection state (step S13), a reading end process is performed (step S14). ). When the reading of the next card 10 is performed continuously (step S15), the processing of steps S11 to S14 is repeated.
[0018]
Thus, the moment when the insertion sensor 24 has not detected the card 10 and the moment when the ejection sensor 26 has changed from the card detection state (presence detection state) to the non-detection state (non-detection state) is detected. And discharge state.
[0019]
Here, the moment when the ejection sensor 26 changes from the card detection state to the non-detection state is used. When strict ejection detection is not required, both the insertion and ejection sensors detect the card non-detection state. It is good also as a state of discharge. According to this flowchart, the barcode information is read only from the time when the card 10 is inserted until the card 10 is ejected.
[0020]
As described above, the ejection of the medium is detected using the plurality of medium sensors. Specifically, an insertion sensor 24 and a discharge sensor 26 are provided. If the insertion sensor 24 has not detected the medium and the discharge sensor 26 that has detected the medium no longer detects the medium, it is assumed that the medium has been discharged. . In addition, here, the sensor is referred to as an insertion / ejection sensor, but this is for the sake of simplicity, and is not a sensor whose use is limited. Therefore, it is also possible to configure the apparatus so as to support insertion of a card in both directions.
[0021]
FIG. 2B is a flowchart for enabling the card 10 to be inserted even from the side of the ejection sensor opposite to that of FIG. 1A in the configuration of FIG. The difference from FIG. 2A is that a new processing routine (steps S16 to S18) is provided in accordance with the operation of the card 10 from the opposite direction. Therefore, only this part will be described. That is, in step S11, when the detection output of the ejection sensor 26 remains in the non-detection state of the card 10, the detection output of the insertion sensor 24 changes from the non-detection state of the card 10 to the detection state. Conversely, even if it is determined that the card 10 is not detected, the detection output of the insertion sensor 24 remains in the non-detection state of the card 10 and the detection output of the ejection sensor 26 changes from the non-detection state of the card 10 to the detected state. (Step S16), the reading process using the reading sensor 28 is started (Step S17). In this reading process, the detection output of the ejection sensor 26 also changes from the non-detection state to the detection state, and the detection output of the insertion sensor 24 also changes from the non-detection state to the detection state. The operation is continuously performed while the presence detection state is continued. If the detection output of the insertion sensor 24 changes from the detection state to the non-detection state while the detection output of the ejection sensor 26 remains in the non-detection state (step S18), the process proceeds to step S14, and the reading is completed. Processing is performed.
[0022]
With this operation, the card 10 can be inserted from either direction.
That is, regardless of the direction in which the medium is inserted, the insertion is accurately detected, and the barcode information is read. When the medium goes straight and is discharged, this is also accurately detected, and the reading of the recording medium information ends.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which card detection is performed only at one barcode reading position.
The difference from the configuration of FIG. 1A is that a light emitting source 30 is provided at a position facing the reading sensor 28 without using an insertion sensor and a discharging sensor. The light detector uses the reading sensor 28. As the light source 30, for example, an LED, a laser diode, or the like can be used. Since the light emitted from the light emitting source 30 is irradiated into the reading area 28A of the reading sensor 28, this light is read by the reading sensor 28. The reading area 28A in FIG. 3 is an example in which a linear sensor is used as the reading sensor 28. Therefore, in this example, some pixels in the linear sensor detect light from the light emitting source 30 and output a signal.
[0024]
Here, when the light from the light emitting source 30 in the reading area 28A is shielded by the insertion of the card 10, the signal representing the light from the light emitting source 30 disappears even in the output signal from the linear sensor. That is, by monitoring the output signal from the specific pixel of the linear sensor, the presence or absence of the card 10 in the reading area 28A can be determined.
[0025]
FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the operation flow when the configuration of FIG. 3 is used. That is, if the light from the light emitting source 30 in the reading area 28A is shielded by the insertion of the card 10 and the reading sensor 28 does not sense the light from the light emitting source 30 (step S21), the reading process using the reading sensor 28 is performed. Start (step S22). This reading process is continued until the reading sensor 28 detects the light of the light emitting source 30 again. That is, when the reading sensor 28 detects the light of the light emitting source 30 again (step S23), the reading end process is performed (step S24). When the reading of the next card 10 is performed continuously (step S25), the processing of steps S21 to S24 is repeated.
[0026]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment shows another example of a method for detecting a card at only one barcode reading position as another means for detecting insertion and ejection of a card.
[0027]
The difference from the configuration in FIG. 3 is that a dedicated card sensor 32 is provided instead of detecting the presence / absence of a card with a light emitting source and a reading sensor. The card sensor 32 can be configured using, for example, a photo interrupter, a proximity sensor, a micro switch, or the like. Here, the card sensor 32 needs to be arranged at the same position as the reading area 28A in the card moving direction and at a position that does not hinder the reading of the barcode. Therefore, in FIG. 5, the card sensor 32 is disposed below the reading area 28A. Even in such a configuration, the presence or absence of the card 10 can be detected by the sensor output of the card sensor 32 as in the configuration of FIG.
[0028]
FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the operation flow when the configuration of FIG. 5 is used. That is, when the leading end of the card 10 reaches the reading area 28A after the insertion of the card 10, the card sensor 32 detects the card 10 (step S31), and starts reading processing using the reading sensor 28 (step S32). . This reading process is continued while the card sensor 32 is sensing the card 10. That is, when the card sensor 32 stops sensing the card 10 (step S33), a reading end process is performed (step S34). When the reading of the next card 10 is performed continuously (step S35), the processing of steps S31 to S34 is repeated.
[0029]
As described above, the insertion and ejection of the card 10 can be detected at only one barcode reading position. That is, regardless of the direction in which the medium is inserted, the insertion is accurately detected, and the barcode information is read. When the medium goes straight and is discharged, this is also accurately detected, and the reading of the recording medium information ends. Here, a dedicated sensor (card sensor 32) may be provided as a sensor used for detection, or the reading sensor 28 may be used.
[0030]
The method of detecting the ejection of a card using a sensor has been described above. However, when the reading end process as shown in the flowchart is not necessary immediately after the ejection of the card, the ejection of the card is detected as follows. it can. That is, only the insertion sensor is used as the sensor, and the ejection of the card is recognized by the completion of the decoding process. As a result, even when the card has not been ejected yet, if the decoding has been completed, the reading end process can be performed, and the decoding time can be reduced. However, in the continuous reading state, it is better to perform the card insertion detection by shifting from a state where the card is not detected to a state where the card is detected, in case decoding is completed when the card is crossing the insertion sensor in the continuous reading state. . This eliminates the problem of reading the same card twice. Further, the position of the insertion sensor may be configured so as to be the same as or near the reading area.
[0031]
Further, in the first to third embodiments, the card is used as the medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to detect the ejection of a sheet-like material or a cardboard box on which a barcode is printed. Applicable. Further, in FIG. 1, the card is transported by the operator's hand, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to an automatic transport system using a driving roller or the like.
[0032]
Although the information recorded on the medium has been described as a barcode, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, information such as a character may be used. Therefore, the present invention can be widely applied to, for example, discharge detection of a character scanner or the like.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information recording medium reading apparatus capable of accurately detecting insertion and ejection of an information recording medium on which information such as a barcode is recorded.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an information recording medium reading device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are diagrams each showing an arrangement of bar codes on a card. is there.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the information recording medium reading device of the present invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the second and third embodiments, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the information recording medium reading device of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of sensors in a conventional information recording medium reading device.
FIG. 7 is a circuit configuration diagram of a conventional information recording medium reading device.
8 is a diagram illustrating signal waveforms at various parts in FIG. 7 for explaining the operation of the conventional information recording medium reading device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Card, 12 ... Barcode, 12A ... Bar, 12B ... Space, 20 ... Information recording medium reading device main body, 22 ... Guide groove, 24 ... Insertion sensor, 26 ... Ejection sensor, 28 ... Reading sensor, 28A ... Reading area , 30 light emitting source, 32 card sensor.

Claims (2)

A transport path on which a medium on which information is recorded is transported,
A read sensor arranged in the transport path to read information recorded on the medium in the process of transporting the medium,
A first medium detection sensor and a second medium detection sensor disposed before and after the reading sensor in the transport path;
The moment the output of the first medium detection sensor becomes chromatic detection state from a no detection state, a medium insertion detection means for detecting as an insertion into the transport path of the medium,
Or after the time that the medium insertion detection means detects insertion of the medium, and, along with the output of said first medium sensor continues as it is non-detection state will no detection state again from the chromatic detection state the moment the output of the second medium detection sensor becomes non-detecting state from the chromatic detection state, and the medium ejection detection means for detecting as a discharge from the conveyance path of the inserted the medium into the transport path,
From the time when said medium insertion detecting means detects the insertion of the medium, until the time the discharge is detected from the transport path of the medium by the medium discharge detecting means, continue to read out information from the medium Control means for controlling the reading sensor ,
An information recording medium reading device comprising: A transport path on which a medium on which information is recorded is transported,
A read sensor arranged in the transport path to read information recorded on the medium in the process of transporting the medium,
A first medium detection sensor and a second medium detection sensor disposed before and after the reading sensor in the transport path;
Of said first and second media sensor, the moment when the output of one of the medium sensor becomes chromatic detection state from a no detection state, the medium is detected inserted as insertion into the transport path of the medium Detecting means;
Or after the time point of detecting the insertion of the medium by the medium insertion detection means, and said the output of the medium sensor of the one continues as it is non-detection state will no detection state again from the chromatic detection state the moment the output of the other medium detection sensor of the first and second media sensor becomes non-detecting state from the chromatic detection state, as a discharge from the conveyance path of the inserted the medium into the transport path Medium discharge detecting means for detecting,
From the time when said medium insertion detecting means detects the insertion of the medium, until the time the discharge is detected from the transport path of the medium by the medium discharge detecting means, continue to read out information from the medium Control means for controlling the reading sensor ,
An information recording medium reading device comprising:

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